Macbook Pro Desk Set-up

After despising the Macbook Pro housing its strangely starting to grow on me, so now I come to another decision, My choices are to either buy a stand for my desk that will elevate the Macbook Pro giving it enough height that I wont be straining to use it and so I wont need and external keyboard, or to buy an additional monitor and hook it up to that with an external keyboard and mouse, Which would you guys do?

The laptop is going to be used for photography and will be hooked up to a external hard drive while on the desk (not sure if this makes any difference?).

Im using my MBP for photography as well, and would recommend a separate monitor, mouse and keyboard setup. Not only will this be much more comfortable for you, but it will reduce wear and tear on your MBP; and lastly, it will be a much sexier looking setup

If you've got cash to burn, go for the external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If you don't, buy something sturdy and stylish and save a few hundred bucks.

I'm the type who would rather wait and save for something great than purchase something less than the best (or close to it). If you're going to go the external route, my suggestion would be to shoot for an upper-range monitor. Maybe a Dell UltraSharp or Apple Cinema Display (there are other brands, but those are the two most common with the former often costing less). Get something that will honestly improve your working environment.

Otherwise, you'll be paying less than $100 for a stand which will most likely work perfectly. That way you can spend a few months mulling over your options.

I recently purchased a MBP and ended up getting a stand (Griffin Elevator $39), Apple USB keyboard, and eventually a Dell Ultrasharp 2007WFP 20" LCD.
I think getting an external monitor for photography, etc. is a no brainer.
The main reason for getting the stand as well was to keep the laptop LCD and external LCD matched up height wise (using dual monitor setup), enhance cooling out the bottom of the MBP, and to save some desk space by putting my external hard drive underneath the elevated MBP.
Perfect setup for me - plenty of desktop space, full size keyboard, adn less wear on the MBP keyboard.

I recently purchased a MBP and ended up getting a stand (Griffin Elevator $39), Apple USB keyboard, and eventually a Dell Ultrasharp 2007WFP 20" LCD.
I think getting an external monitor for photography, etc. is a no brainer.
The main reason for getting the stand as well was to keep the laptop LCD and external LCD matched up height wise (using dual monitor setup), enhance cooling out the bottom of the MBP, and to save some desk space by putting my external hard drive underneath the elevated MBP.
Perfect setup for me - plenty of desktop space, full size keyboard, adn less wear on the MBP keyboard.

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That is a great set-up. All that's missing for me is the stand and additional monitor which I will be picking up soon for photographic and video editing purposes. I'm going to copy your idea about propping the external hd under the stand.

The main reason for getting the stand as well was to keep the laptop LCD and external LCD matched up height wise (using dual monitor setup), enhance cooling out the bottom of the MBP, and to save some desk space by putting my external hard drive underneath the elevated MBP.

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Nice setup. It also looks like it protects your MBP from any coffee that might get spilled.

I can't post up any pics yet of my setup... because it hasn't arrived yet.
I am a photographer as well... and I take my book around with me quite often... I found that it was such a pain in the arse to unplug my external HD's, and my card readers, and the monitor, and the keyboard, mouse, powercord etc etc etc... SO what I did was to buy a "Bookendz" http://www.bookendzdocks.com. With this dock you can plug your external monitor, keyboard, mouse, External HD, firewire & USB devices to it and leave them all plugged in. All you need to do is drop your Book in the slot and squeeze it together. Ultra convenient.

My MBP currently doesn't have a desk - my PC is still taking up that space. It sits on top my Antec case until I need it. Isn't that what a laptop's for, taking it wherever you might need it? Let 'em roam!

I can't post up any pics yet of my setup... because it hasn't arrived yet.
I am a photographer as well... and I take my book around with me quite often... I found that it was such a pain in the arse to unplug my external HD's, and my card readers, and the monitor, and the keyboard, mouse, powercord etc etc etc... SO what I did was to buy a "Bookendz" http://www.bookendzdocks.com. With this dock you can plug your external monitor, keyboard, mouse, External HD, firewire & USB devices to it and leave them all plugged in. All you need to do is drop your Book in the slot and squeeze it together. Ultra convenient.

B

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Wow this is very convenient. With only an inch or so under the unit, does it keep your MBP's temps down?

I can't post up any pics yet of my setup... because it hasn't arrived yet.
I am a photographer as well... and I take my book around with me quite often... I found that it was such a pain in the arse to unplug my external HD's, and my card readers, and the monitor, and the keyboard, mouse, powercord etc etc etc... SO what I did was to buy a "Bookendz" http://www.bookendzdocks.com. With this dock you can plug your external monitor, keyboard, mouse, External HD, firewire & USB devices to it and leave them all plugged in. All you need to do is drop your Book in the slot and squeeze it together. Ultra convenient.

B

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For $300, I think I'll take the extra 20 seconds to plug/unplug my stuff from my laptop. If you have the extra cash, more power to ya.

For $300, I think I'll take the extra 20 seconds to plug/unplug my stuff from my laptop. If you have the extra cash, more power to ya.

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Its more than just convenience. It is convenience, anesthetics, efficiency... I can't stand cables running all over. When i have my stuff plugged into my laptop all the cables come out the sides... with the BookEndz they all come from the back.

300 dollars isn't that much to pay for a docking station. HP, DELL, Sony, IBM... they all have offered docking solutions. They all cost in the ballpark of 300 dollars. Even Belkin is selling a docking station that uses the ExpressCard slot. That thing cost 199.00 and it isnt half as elegant as the bookendz.

1st post and 1st time mac user (just switched from XP). I just bought my 17" MBP and was looking for a decent setup and found this thread (btw nice setups). I was curious as to the keyboard and mouse setup for the system below. Thanks for the help in advance. =)

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